Assigned to PS                                                                                                                   AS PASSED BY COW

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1231

newly elected constables; training

(NOW: training; newly elected constables)

Purpose

Allows an elected or appointed constable to request training from the Constable Ethics Standards and Training Board (CESTB) as prescribed.

Background

A constable must attend the courts of justices of the peace within the constable's precinct when required, and must, within the county, execute, serve and return all processes, warrants and notices directed or delivered to the constable by a justice of the peace of the county or by competent authority. A constable may perform required duties within any precinct in another county if that precinct adjoins the precinct in which the constable was elected or appointed (A.R.S. § 22-131).

The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) must approve a mandatory basic training course for newly elected constables covering topics including civil and criminal process, conflict resolution and firearm safety. Constables must attend the mandatory training course within six months after election. In subsequent years, constables must annually attend at least 16 hours of additional training approved by AZPOST. A copy of the certificate of completion for the training must be forwarded to the CESTB within 30 days after completion (A.R.S. § 22-137).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Allows an elected or appointed constable to request training from the CESTB.

2. Requires the training, on approval by the CESTB, to be paid for by the CESTB and provided by a constable who is selected by the CESTB and completed the mandatory basic training.

3. Allows a selected constable to provide the training in any county of Arizona.

4. Makes technical changes.

5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by Committee

· Adopted the strike-everything amendment.

Senate Action

PS                    2/19/25         DPA/SE          4-1-2

Prepared by Senate Research

February 26, 2025

KJA/AG/slp